North Korean Nuclear Weapon to Require Less Plutonium Than Estimated

North Korea may be able to produce a nuclear weapon with smaller amounts of plutonium than previously estimated, local media reported Friday, citing South Korean intelligence.

MOSCOW (Sputnik) — Earlier government estimates claimed that it usually took 6 kilograms (13.2 pounds) to produce a nuclear weapon. According to the Yonhap news agency, the development of technology in North Korea could mean the country could be able to create such a weapon with 5 kilograms of plutonium.

Seoul believes that Pyongyang has around 40 kilograms of plutonium, therefore meaning it could produce eight nuclear weapons. The media outlet’s other sources say that North Korea may have increased the amounts of plutonium it holds in recent months.

North Korea declared itself a nuclear power in 2005 and conducted nuclear tests in 2006, 2009 and 2013, having earlier withdrawn from the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty that it ratified in 1985.

The United States, Japan and South Korea, as well as Russia and China, took part in talks on denuclearization of the Korean peninsula with North Korea from 2003 until 2009, when Pyongyang withdrew from talks.